Former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy asked the state government to take legal action against Amazon after the e-commerce platform was found selling a bikini with Kannada state flag and emblem on it. Kumaraswamy said the company had hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas.
"Karnataka government must proceed towards taking action against Amazon, they are hurting the sentiments of the Kannadigas. Being a Canadian company, they must abide by the feelings and sentiments of the people. Google made a similar mistake and apologised later. Now it is Amazon's turn. The Karnataka must teach them a proper lesson legally," he said.
Google had tendered an apology last week after it showed in its search results Kannada as the ugliest language in India, sparking off an outrage in the state.
On Saturday, several users claimed that a bikini having colours of the Karnataka flag and emblem was available for sale on the Amazon’s Canada site. Following this, Karnataka Culture Minister Aravind Limbavali said the government would take legal action against the company.
Calling it a matter of Kannadigas' self-pride and that the government would not tolerate such things, the minister asked Amazon Canada to apologise.
The bikini had the colours of state's flag, in hues of yellow and red, and has the state's emblem ''Gandaberunda'', a two-headed mythological bird, which now seems to have been removed by Amazon from its Canada site following uproar.
